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MARSHALL — The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office is searching for two missing teenage runaways. According to our news partner KETK, the two went missing from Heartlight Ministries around 9:15 p.m. Wednesday night. The teens are identified as 17-year-old Susanna Burks and 15-year-old Jada Allen. Burks is 5’7”, 135 pounds with long brown hair and brown eyes. She also has a distinctive mark on her nose and was last seen wearing a black top. Allen is 5’3″ with brown hair and brown eyes. She had on a red St. Louis Cardinals sweatshirt. Contact the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office at 903-923-4000, or any law enforcement agency, with details regarding this case.

GREGG COUNTY — The Gregg County Sheriff’s Office is looking for information and suspects related to the theft of an RV. Officials say it was taken from the RV park on FM 2207 and the North Service Road by Lonestar between Aug. 14 and 15. According to a social media post by the department, the RV is a 2019 Shasta Oasis 33′ camper trailer, and ‘desert’ tan in color. The license number is B222989. If you have any information contact the Investigator Scott Morrison at 903-237-2532 or Gregg County Crime Stoppers at Gregg County Crime Stoppers at 903-236-STOP.

LONGVIEW — The East Texas Food Bank will hold a drive-thru produce distribution in Longview on Friday. The free allocation will take place at the Gregg County Fairgrounds from 8 to 10 a.m. Families will need to enter from Cotton St. at 100 Grand Blvd. and follow the route and traffic control directions to receive the free produce items. This is drive-thru only, walk-ups will not be accepted. There are no eligibility requirements and ID is not needed. Organizers say if you are picking up items for someone else, you need a note from that person with their name, address, permission to pick up and their signature. The physical note or a picture of it will be accepted.

GLADEWATER — The Gladewater Fire Department is expected to lose eight out of twelve of its full-time firefighters by the start of next month. Last year, Smith County Emergency Services District No. 2 voted to pay an increased sale tax to fund additional full-time firefighters. According to our news partner KETK, the sales tax increase allowed for the hire of additional full-time staff at the rate of $10,000 more than GFD’s current salaries. Mayor, John ‘J.D.’ Shipp said, “Smith County ESD is pulling several firefighters from Gladewater… it’s an opportunity for guys to take the next step in their careers and take better care of their families financially.” Continue reading Eight of twelve firefighters expected to be lost in Gladewater

TYLER — World Polio Day is this weekend and Rotary members in the South Tyler Rotary Club are taking action on Thursday. The group is raising awareness, funds, and support to end polio, a vaccine-preventable disease that still threatens children in some parts of the world. Dining Out for Polio Plus – A portion of the proceeds from lunch and dinner sales will be donated towards the eradication of polio. The following Restaurants will be donating proceeds of each ticket towards the initiative on October 22. Continue reading Dinning out for Polio Plus

TYLER — The Northeast Texas Public Health District reported ten Smith County residents, including one 35-year-old Tyler man, recently died with COVID-19 as a related cause. On Wednesday George Roberts told KTBB, “The deaths we reported go as far back as October 6th. We depend on other agencies, hospitals, nursing homes, to provide us with this information. So those deaths did not all occur on one day, but they basically go from Oct. 6th through the 19th.” Continue reading Ten Smith County residents die from COVID since Oct. 6

TYLER — Thieves are 3 times more likely to steal packages in December. A Holiday Crime Watch virtual meeting has been scheduled for October 29th at 6:00 p.m. Organizers say the goal is to help prevent and stop crime. Practical guidance will be shared, along with new technology. ‘The Flock,’ is basically a License Plate Reader that when a vehicle is tied to a subject with warrants, a Violation of an Emergency Protective Order, a stolen vehicle, etc…it sends dispatch a text and officers respond. Register for the free meeting by clicking the link. https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_9Wq1HHOKRaOVSfSS1xciAA.

MARSHALL — A Harrison County grand jury indicted a former Longview ISD teacher on numerous charges including sexual abuse and aggravated sexual assault with a child. Originally, Topher James Stout, 41, was arrested last July in Longview for aggravated sexual assault with a child under the age of 14. According to our news partner KETK, he has since been accused of three other child sex charges and is being held in the Harrison County Jail. His bail has been set at half a million dollars. Stout, if convicted, is facing life in prison for the charges.

TYLER — Pilates Collective Tyler opened their doors in August. Stacy Hauck told KTBB on Tuesday, while the venue is new, the instructors are not. “Pam is great she has taught Pilates, actually all of our instructors, except for one, have taught Pilates for 20 plus years.” Hauck continued, “We have a very extensive staff of ‘Master Trainers’ and the passion that they have for the community and for the members is like nothing I’ve ever seen. And I look at it on the members side, because even though I own it I am not an instructor.” Hauck co-owns the facility with Pam Van Meter. They will host their Grand Opening and Open House from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday. A Ribbon Cutting Ceremony with the Chamber of Commerce will take place at 4:30 p.m. Continue reading Pilates Collective Tyler to celebrate grand opening and ribbon cutting

TYLER — A Tyler man was in a Smith County courtroom on Tuesday, after being arrested in connection with a Tyler gas station robbery Monday night. Robert McKenzie, 48, is charged with robbery and evading arrest. McKenzie is accused of grabbing money that was on the counter at an Exxon on Loop 323 before driving away. Tyler Police say when an officer attempted to stop the vehicle, McKenzie continued to drive a short distance before his eventual arrest.

LONGVIEW — The BBB will be hosting a free “Shred Day” event on Saturday, from 9:00 AM until Noon in Longview at the Drug Emporium on W. Loop 281. Attendees are encouraged to bring paper documents that contain personal and/or financial information to be destroyed. Cardboard boxes will not be accepted. Organizers request that attendees bring their documents in plastic bags. BBB has held three “Shred Day” events in 2020 in Tyler, Jacksonville and Lindale, which totaled nearly 50,000 pounds of documents to be destroyed. Continue reading BBB to host free “Shred Day” in Longview

TYLER – Tyler ISD recognized Tyler Junior College recently, for its continued partnership to create successful student outcomes throughout the District. According to a TISD brief, Superintendent Dr. Marty Crawford presented TJC President Dr. Juan Mejia with a Texas Association of School Board business recognition certificate as part of TASB’s Stand Up for Texas Public Schools advocacy campaign. TJC has partnered with Tyler ISD to create college-bound cultures, including the Early College High School program and the TJC Promise Scholarship program. Continue reading TISD celebrates TJC with award of recognition

LONGVIEW — Two organizations will be holding food distributions at the Longview Convention Complex this week. The East Texas Food Bank will hold a drive-thru produce distribution in Longview at the Gregg County Fairgrounds on Friday, from 8 to 10 a.m. Families will need to enter from Cotton St. at 100 Grand Blvd. and follow the route and traffic control directions to receive the free produce items. Additionally, Transformation Longview will hold a Farmers to Families Food Box Giveaway from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, distributing 1,500 food boxes with produce, meat, and dairy. Any family seeking food assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic click the link https://www.easttexasfoodbank.org/join-the-fight/, and scroll down to get information on the nearest food resources.

EAST TEXAS — Mabank will forfeit its game against Chapel Hill scheduled for Friday night. According to our news partner KETK, Mabank is the latest school to have to cancel a football game after cases of COVID-19 occurred. The junior varsity and junior high games set for this week will continued as scheduled. For district tie-breaker purposes, Chapel Hill will be award a 15-0 win. The Spring Hill Football program will continue to be sidelined this week. Last Friday’s game at Liberty-Eylau was canceled due to COVID-19. The Panthers also canceled this Friday’s game vs. Pleasant Grove. Since it is a district contest, it will be an 18-point forfeit loss for Spring Hill, and an 18-point forfeit win for Pleasant Grove.

TYLER — Two virtual open houses will be held by Tyler Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Thursday to gather public data that could be used in updating the city’s Master Street Plan. According to our news partner KETK, the virtual open houses will be held via Zoom from 1 to 2 p.m. and 5 to 6 p.m. Oct 22. The same topics will be discussed during both meetings. The public can join a meeting by clicking the links. Meeting #1 from 1 to 2 p.m. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82452463540?pwd=WVRqcFFZSXdsOHowdFJLRnpjVSt5UT09. Continue reading Virtual open houses announced for Master Street Plan

LONGVIEW — The Junior League of Longview is closing its Bargain Box store on Fourth St after nearly a quarter of a century. According to a post on social media, TJL Longview credited a partnership with Neiman Marcus beginning in 1996 that has allowed the proceeds from the store to “return thousands of dollars back into the community through projects, grants, and scholarships.” The League will continue to evaluate the current changing retail climate and look to the future for innovative avenues to fundraise to serve the Longview community.

MARSHALL — The Marshall Police Department Drug Take Back Event will be held Saturday in front of CVS Pharmacy on East End Blvd North. Unwanted, unused or expired prescription drugs will be collected by Officers on-site from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from residents in Marshall and Harrison County. Immediately following the Drug Take Back Day, the Marshall Police Department will hand-deliver the prescription drugs to the DEA, and all medications will be incinerated. Organizers say this option is proven safer than flushing pills into the water supply or throwing them directly in the trash.

ATHENS — A total of three people were arrested in connection to drug crimes in Henderson County on Sunday and Monday, according to a news release from the Sheriff’s Office. “These individuals may have thought the wee-hours of the night and darkness would hide them from the law,” Hillhouse said. “They were wrong.” Joshua Warren Pannitti, 29, was taken into custody Monday after a deputy tried to pull him over and then saw him drop something in a trash can, the announcement said.Shelley Lue Riggins, 53, was arrested at a residence near Larue and charged with possession of the same drug and possession of a firearm by a felon. Continue reading 3 arrested in Henderson county

EDGEWOOD — An Edgewood man died Saturday after losing control of his car and hitting a tree. According to a media release from DPS, Tristen Levi Crow, 21, was traveling north on Highway 19 about 3.5 miles southwest of Edgewood about 5 a.m. Saturday. Initial reports indicate Crow left the roadway to the west and entered a side skid continuing in the west ditch skidding north until crossing over VZCR 3606 and making impact. Crow was pronounced dead at the scene. The DPS is investigating the accident.

BROWNSBORO — New Hope United Methodist Church received a Texas Historical Marker by State Representative Keith Bell on Saturday. The commemorative marker tells the story of the Jackson family and how the church came to be. You can view the presentation by clicking the link. https://www.facebook.com/NewHopeBrownsboro. The marker reads: New Hope United Methodist Church Located south of Brownsboro in the community known as New Hope, the New Hope United Methodist Church began as a small gathering in a combination school and church building. Continue reading New Hope receives Texas Historical Marker

KILGORE — An East Texas criminal defense attorney will be buried this week. Clifton L.“Scrappy” Holmes died at the age of 81 and will be memorialized at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Rader Funeral Home in Kilgore. According to our news parnter KETK, Holmes was born in Kilgore and upon earning his law degree from George Washington University National Law Center returned to East Texas. Holmes served in numerous cases across a 50-year-career including, Bernie Tiede, a Carthage funeral home worker who befriended and killed a wealthy widow in 1996. Continue reading Funeral services announced for East Texas attorney Clifton ‘Scrappy’ Holmes

TYLER — MJ Hegar was in Tyler on Saturday meeting with voters and local leaders. Hegar is running for the US Senate, taking on the incumbent, Senator John Cornyn. Hegar made the stop in Tyler at the Majesty Adult Day Care and was joined by councilwoman Shirley McKellar and facility owner Ed Thompson. Hegar claims that in Cornyn’s 30 years in Washington, he has taken $12 million from special interest groups. Hegar says, “she won’t fight for special interest groups and we deserve better.”

LONGVIEW — The support for President Trump has been evident over the last several months with “Boat Parades”, “Biker Rally’s” and “Motorcade Processions.” Saturday marked a Trump parade in Longview. According to our news partner KETK, the Trump Parade was well represented with decorated cars and RV’s, as well as motorcycles flying flags and waving signs of support. Organizers say this was their attempt to have fun, and motivate people to vote. Gail Gilbert said, “We decided that it was just a fun thing to do. People could bring their families, support the president, dress patriotic and put their flags up.” Early voting continues Monday. Election Day is November 3.

LONGVIEW — The final four Longview firefighters returned home this week following their deployment to assist with wildfires in California. City officials said in a media brief, that the Employees had been in that state since Sept. 28, after going to relieve an initial team of three firefighters that had been on location since Sept. 11. Firefighters are rehabbing this weekend with family and friends before returning to work next week. There are still 8,000 firefighters on the front lines across the state, as of Saturday.

TYLER – Here is a look at some of the work planned by TxDOT in the Tyler district for the upcoming week. Schedules are subject to weather conditions, equipment failure, or other unforeseen issues. Slow down and pay attention when traveling through work zones. In Smith County, opening of the newly completed I-20 entrance and exit ramps between US 69 and Jim Hogg Rd. has been rescheduled for this week. The ramps are part of the $14.8 million I-20 Ramp Improvement project. In Gregg County, various projects will be performed including the FM 3272 Restoration Project and the FM 1844 Widening Project. To see the entire report for the upcoming week for the entire 8 County District, click the link. https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/media-center/local-news/tyler/040-2020.html.